Rotary funnels employed for winding fibre slivers in crossed reels



jam. 14, 1969 J. F. HERUBEL 3,421,706

ROTARY FUNNELS EMPLOYED FOR WINDING FIBRE SLIVERS IN CROSSED HEELS FiledJan. 12, 1967 Sheet of 2 m 4, 9 J. F. HERUBEL 3,421,706

ROTARY FUNNELS EMPLOYED FOR WINDING FIBRE; SLIVERS IN CROSSED REELSFiled Jan. 12., 1967 Sheet 3 of 2 United States Patent ROTARY FUNNELSEMPLOYED FOR WINDING FIBRE SLIVERS lN CROSSED REELS Jean FredericHerubel, 1 Rue dn 4 Fevrier, Guebwiller, Haut-Rhin, France Filed Jan.12, 1967, Ser. No. 608,816 Claims priority, application France, Jan. 21,1966,

US. Cl. 24254.4 Claims Int. Cl. B65h 75/16 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afalse-twist funnel device for Winding fibre slivers in a crossed-reel ona winding roll in which a funnel having a delivery end is imparted withangular oscillatory movement about its axis and a reciprocal movementalong an arcuate path about an axis at right angles to the axis ofoscillation such that the delivery end of said funnel describes a pathof travel which extends substantially along a straight line parallel tothe axis of the winding roll.

This invention relates to devices for winding textile fibre slivers incrossed reels in textile machines of the type employed for combing orpreparation for spinning. The invention is more specifically concernedwith the reciprocating motion and rotary motion of the false-twistfunnel which moves in front of the reel during the process of formationof the reel and has the effect of crossing the turns of sliver.

In known forms of construction, the false-twist funnel is secured to acarriage which is adapted to move parallel to the axis of the winding-onrolls and the travel of which nearly corresponds to the width of thereel which is in process of formation. There is a tendency at thepresent time towards a constant increase both in diameter and Width ofreels as Well as in the general speed of textile machines, so thatdevices of the type under consideration are called upon to work underpoor conditions and even limit the work capacity of the machine as awhole by reason of the substantial masses and distances of travel of themoving parts. Moreover, in order to prevent abnormal tension on thesliver as a result of variation in length of the sliver path, thewinding-on rolls are mounted in a rocking assembly in order tocompensate for this effect.

In another form of construction, the false-twist funnel is pivotallymounted on a carriage which moves parallel to the axis of the winding-onrolls in such a manner as to ensure that the funnel is continuouslydirected along the line which passes through the points of contact ofthe sliver with the tensio-ning roll which is placed at the delivery endof the machine and with the winding-on roll. The travel of the carriagenevertheless remains substantial as well as the overall weight of themoving parts.

In another known system of the same type, the funnel is not only capableof swinging about its pivotal axis but also of sliding axially. Theoperating mechanism thus forms an assembly which is complicated,relatively unstable, and liable to result in impaired uniformity of thesliver.

Moreover, the rotary drive to the rotating funnels in known systems isobtained from the reciprocating motion of the funnel by means of a pairof bevel gears in conjunction with a stationary rack which is parallelto the axis of the winding-on roll. In this manner, the reciprocatingtranslational motion of the funnel initiates its own movement ofrotation about its axis. The reversal of the direction of rotation ofthe funnels is therefore carried "ice out at the end of travel of thefunnel carriage, that is to say at the two ends of the reel.

Known mechanisms have the disadvantage, among others, of releasing thesliver at the moment of reversal of translational motion of the funnel,compensation for the variation in length of the sliver path beinginsufficient.

Under such conditions, it is difficult to obtain reels having neatshapes in view of the fact that the sliver is too slack. Furthermore,the sliver is not controlled in a uniform manner as it passes out of thefunnel and is therefore subjected to variations in tension which aredetrimental to its uniformity. Moreover, if it is desired to attain themaximum weight of material for a given weight of reel, it is necessaryto have a well-condensed sliver, which is not always the case in theconventional delivery mechanisms of textile machines.

In point of fact, the present tendency to increase the diameters ofreels calls for faultless formation of these latter, starting from smalldiameters, in order to prevent collapse of the large-diameter turns andthus to facilitate unwinding of the turns in subsequent machines. Tothis end, it is necessary to Wind-on a well-gathered sliver, thealternate false twist of which is condensed, and even to prevent thereversal of the direction of rotation of funnels over those portions ofthe sliver which are presented at the weakest points of the reel, namelyat the sides.

The object of the invention is to improve winding-on mechanisms in orderto overcome the disadvantages referred-to above.

To this end, there is imparted to the funnel a reciprocating movement ofrotation about its axis and, in addition, a pivotal movement about anaxis at right angles to the axis of the winding-on roll or rolls as wellas a movement in the direction of the axis of the said roll or rolls,the two movements last mentioned being in synchronism so that, withinthe limits of ordinary use, the delivery end of the funnel describes apath which practically coincides with a straight line parallel to theaxis of the said windingon roll or rolls.

According to another feature of the invention, the axis of pivotalmotion of the funnel passes through a point which is located at apredetermined distance from the delivery end of the said funnel and insuch a manner that the length of path of the delivery end of the funnelis relatively greater than the path described by the said point.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the funnel support isrigidly fixed to one end of a coupling rod which is pivotally attachedto a link-rod, the said link-rod being pivotally mounted at a fixedpoint, a rocker-arm to which a reciprocating movement is imparted beingpivotally mounted on the funnel support, the complete assembly beingdesigned and arranged so that the delivery end of the funnel shoulddescribe a path which is substantially parallel to the axis of thewinding-on roll or rolls.

According to another feature of the invention, the funnel-actuatinglink-rod system is designed and arranged so that the distance over whichthe delivery end of the funnel travels is greater than the distancecovered by the end of the rocker-arm which drives the funnel support.

According to another feature of the invention, the funnel is mounted inits support in a removable manner.

According to another feature of the invention, the amplitude and phaseof the movement of rotation of the funnel are adjustable with respect tothe amplitude and phase of the movement of translation.

According to another feature of the invention, the amplitude oftranslational motion of the funnel is adjustable according to the lengthof the reel to be formed.

According to another feature of the invention, the translational motionof the funnel is uniformly accelerated and decelerated, this resultbeing preferably in such a manner as to ensure that the motion isaccelerated at the points of reversal and decelerated in the centralposition in order to guarantee uniformity of the turns on the reel.

According to another feature of the invention, the acceleration anddeceleration of the translational motion are carried out by means of apair of eccentric or elliptical wheels or by means of two eccentricwheels interposed in the translational motion control mechanism.

According to another feature of the invention, the camshaft is driven bymeans of a pair of eccentric wheels in order to compensate for theobliquity effect of some link-arms of the funnel-actuating link-rodsystem.

Other properties and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement of the funnel-actuating link-rodsystem according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows, partly in cross-section, the mode of assembly of thefunnel in its support.

FIG. 3 shows the rocker-arm and its operating mechanism in greaterdetail.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view which corresponds to FIG. 3 butwhich has been rotated through an angle of 90 with respect to thelatter.

The false twist funnel 1 is mounted in a support 2 (as shown in FIGS. 3and 4) which is pivoted about the shaft 3. The complete assembly iscarried by an arm 4, the arm being pivoted about its shaft 5 which ismounted in two bearings 6 and endowed with a reciprocating movementcontrolled by a 1ink-rod 7 and by a crank-arm 8. The pivot-pin 3 of thefunnel support 2 therefore describes a circular arc (as indicated by thereference d in FIG. 1). The funnel 1 consequently moves in a plane whichis tangent to the winding-on roll or rolls 9.

In addition, the funnel 1 is mounted on its support 2 in such a manneras to be capable of tilting with respect to the pivot-pin 3 so that thetilting movement of the funnel compensates for the swinging motion ofthe rocker-arm 4 and that, within the limits of utilization, the pathfollowed by the end of the funnel coincides with a straight line e (asshown in FIG. 1) which is parallel to the axis of the winding-on rolls9. The inclination of the funnel support 2 is obtained by means of acoupling rod 10 which is rigidly fixed to the support 2 and pivotallyattached at 13 to a link-rod 11 which is pivotally mounted at 12 on theframe of the machine. During the oscillating motion of the rocker-arm 4,the assembly comprising the coupling rod 10 and link-rod 11 is endowedwith a lifting and lowering movement about the pivotal axis 12, theresult of this movement being to control the inclination of thefunnel 1. The link-rod 11 extends horizontally in the central positionof the funnel.

The pin 13 by which the rod is pivotally coupled to the rod 11 isadapted to carry a tensioning roller 14 (as shown in FIG. 4) whichcarries out a movement of vertical displacement.

A further advantage of this invention lies in the control of themovement of rotation of the funnel. This is achieved by means of atoothed sector 15 (as shown in FIG. 3) which is pivotally mounted on thepin 5 of the rocker-arm 4 and driven in turn by a link-rod 16 and acrank-arm 17. The sector 15 is adapted to engage a pinion 18 which iskeyed on shaft 19, the said shaft being mounted in the rocker-arm 4 bymeans of two bearings 20 and adapted to carry the sprocket-wheel 21.Motion is transmitted by means of a chain 22 which is placed inside therocker-arm 4 to the sprocket 23 which is keyed on the pivot-pin 3 of thesupport 2 of the funnel 1, the said pin 3 being intended to drive thefunnel 1 by means of a pair of bevel-pinions 24 and 25. A movabletensioning roller 26 (as shown in FIG. 3) serves to control the tensionof the drive chain 22 against which it is applied.

In accordance with the present invention, the driving motion of thesector 15 can either be in step or out of step with respect to thereciprocating motion of the rocker-arm 4. The reversal of the directionof rotation of the funnel 1 is dependent on the out-of-step relation ofthe two movements. Accordingly, the crank-arm 17 is designed to beadjustable within the arcuate guide slot 40 of the drive wheel 31.

According to another feature of the invention, the translationalmovement of the false-twist funnel 1 is uniformly accelerated andretarded so as to guarantee uniformity of the turn on the reel, themovement being accelerated at the moment of reversal and retarded in thecentral position. To this end, the crank-arm 8 is driven by a pair ofelliptical eccentric wheels or, as shown in the drawings, by twoeccentric wheels 27 and 28.

According to another feature of the invention, the drive shaft 33 isdriven by a second pair of eccentric wheels 34 and 35 so as tocompensate for the effect of obliquity of the link-rod 7 and crank-arm8.

According to another feature of the invention, the travel of the funnel1 and consequently the width of the reel 52 can be varied. To this end,the position of the pin 36 of the link-rod 7 can be adjusted within theguide slot 37 which is formed in the crank-arm 8.

According to another feature of the invention, in order to cause avariation in the false twist applied to the sliver, the pin 38 of thelink-rod 16 is adjustably mounted in a guide slot 39 of the crank-arm17.

The amplitude of movement of the toothed sector 15 can be correctedstill further by displacing the end of the link-rod 16 (the settingpoint) within the guide-slot 41 of the said toothed sector.

A further advantage of the invention lies in the interchangeability ofthe funnel. As shown in FIG. 2, the funnel consists of an inlet funnel45 and a tapered endpiece 46, the orifice of which can have a number ofdifferent profiles which are added to the funnel body 44.

The funnel body 44 is mounted in a bush 47 which is rotatably mounted inthe roller bearing 48 of the bearing shell 49 and which is provided witha terminal threaded portion 50. The bevel gear 25 is integral with thebush 47. The positioning of the funnel Within the bush is obtained byapplying the said funnel in abutting contact with an annual shoulder ofthe said bush. The complete assembly is locked in this position by meansof a rubberized ring 53 which is flattened by compression against thefunnel tube by means of a special nut 51 which is screwed onto thethreaded portion 50' of the bush or by means of any like locking systemof known type. In order the change the funnel, it is merely necessary toloosen the nut 51 and to effect its replacement.

As has been brought out by the foregoing, the arrangement according tothe invention provides a large number of advantages over known systems,and especially the following:

The uniform acceleration and deceleration of the translational motion ofthe funnel guarantee uniformity of each turn on the reel.

The different compensations which are contemplated make it posis-ble toprevent the sliver from being released at the points of reversal oftranslational motion.

In vie-w of the fact that the pivotal axis of the funnel passes throughthe mid-point of its length and also by virtue of the proportions of thecontrol link-rodzsystem, the mass inertial effect is reduced to aminimum.

The mass inertial effect is further reduced by the fact that the lengthof path (reference b, FIG. 1) of the delivery end of the funnel isgreater than the length of path at the point of pivotal motion of thefunnel (reference a, FIG. 1).

Interchangeability of the funnel permits of adaption to the materialbeing processed, the same result being achieved by the regulation ofamplitude and of rotational phase or synchronization with respect totranslational motion.

As will be readily apparent, the mode of construction as hereinbeforedescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings has been givensolely by way of example and not in any limiting sense. It willaccordingly be evident that it is possible to modify in any suitablemanner both shape, composition, arrangement and mode of assembly of thecomponents of the embodiment described without thereby departing fromthe scope of the invention. Thus, the winding-on mechanism described canbe provided with two funnels so as to permit of its application to atwo-funnel delivery. To this end, it is merely necessary to mount adouble funnel support whilst the drive mechanisms remain identical.

According to another alternative form, the pin 5 -of the rocker-arm 4can be mounted at right angles to the axis of the machine.

According to another alternative form, the same pin 5 can be mountedparallel to the axis of the machine.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for winding textile fibre slivers on a winding roll, saidapparatus comprising: a rocker arm supported for pivotal movement aboutan axis which is perpendicular to the axis of said winding roll, asupport mounted on said arm for pivotal movement about an axis parallelto the axis of pivotal movement of said rocker arm, a funnel rotatablymounted in said support, first and second links, said first link havingone end secured to said support and an opposite end connected to one,end of said second link for pivotal movement about an axis parallel tothe aforesaid axes, said second link having a second end which is fixedfor pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said axes, and means fordriving said arm in oscillation about its axis of movement to producearcuate and pivotal movement of said funnel in which the lower end ofthe funnel moves along a rectilinear path parallel to the axis of saidwinding roll.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for. rotating saidfunnel in said support in alternate opposite directions as the armundergoes oscillating movement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said funnel is mounted insaid support along an axis which is fixed with respect to said firstlink and extends in general alignment therewith.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower end of saidfunnel is tilted outwards with respect to said first link.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising means for guiding thepassage of slivers to said funnel including sliver guides in the regionof the axes of pivotal movement of said first and second ends of thesecond link.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2', wherein said means for driving saidarm in oscillation comprises a connecting rod attached to said arm and acrank arm connected to said rod to drive the same.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said funnel is removablymounted in said support and the apparatus further comprises means forremovably securing the funnel in said support including first and secondthreadably engaging members and a deformable element between saidmembers for engaging said funnel to hold the same in position in saidsupport when the element is deformed under the action of said threadablyengaged members.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for driving saidarm includes means for accelerat ing the movement of the arm at thepoints of reversal of the oscillatory movement and to decelerate themovement of the arm in the central portion of said oscillatory movement.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for driving saidarm in oscillation comprises a connecting rod attached to said arm and acrank arm connected to said rod to drive the same, said means foraccelerating and decelerating the movement of the arm comprising a pairof eccentric toothed wheels driving said crank arm.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for acceleratingand decelerating the movement of the arm further comprises a drive shafton which one of said wheels is mounted, said crank arm being mounted onthe other wheel, and a second pair of eccentric wheels for driving saiddrive shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,358,294 9/1944 Arterton et al.242-43 2,968,446 1/ 1961 Selby 242-54.4 2,979,276 4/ 1961 Bider 242-54.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 944,691 12/1963 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Germany printed application DAS 1,119,154 to Kipping etal. dated December 1961.

WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

